Senior Program Associate

Janelle Sandoval, Senior Program Associate

If you have questions or concerns about your mentorship or beginning a mentorship, please contact our Senior Program Associate. Contact: Janelle Sandoval
800.545.6843 ext. 121


 

Albuquerque Community Foundation

Scholarship & Financial Aid Programs

Albuquerque Community Foundation has a number of scholarship and financial aid programs.
All information on programs and applications is available on their website under the Student Aid tab.

Albuquerque Community Foundation

 

Please Join us in fulfilling Our Mission

College Horizons

Futures for Children Sophomores and Juniors

College Horizons is a five-day “Pre-College Workshop” geared specifically for American Indian students. This remarkable program is held twice annually on college campuses around the nation. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to apply (academic transcript required). Please read application requirements carefully.

If you are accepted by College Horizons, Futures for Children will pay for 15 scholarships (round trip airfare and program fees). All enrolled Futures for Children Friendship and Youth Leadership students who qualify with College Horizons are eligible for the scholarship.

College Horizons
 

Gates Millennium Scholarship

Outstanding Students Recognized for Leadership, Academic Achievement, and Service

The Gates Millennium Scholar Program initiative, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is aimed at expanding access and opportunity to higher education to those citizens who will help reflect the diverse society in which we live. The Foundation seeks to increase the number of African Americans, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian & Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanic Americans enrolling in and completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The goal is to promote academic excellence and to provide an opportunity for thousands of outstanding students to reach their fullest potential. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has established this initiative to encourage and support students in completing college and in continuing on to earn masters and doctoral degrees in disciplines where ethnic and racial groups are currently underrepresented.

Gates Millennium Scholarship
 

Sources of Financial Aid - American Indian Students

Indian Resource Development at New Mexico State University publishes the “Sources of Financial Aid Available to American Indian Students” booklet. This booklet provides up-to-date information on financial aid and internship opportunities for Native American students.

Financial Aid
 

TradeUp New Mexico

Training & Careers

If you are considering beginining a career in the buidling trade, TradeUp New Mexico can help you; they help you build a career. They assist in choosing a professional path, completing an apprenticeship, and beginning your career.

For additional information, visit TradeUp New Mexico.
 

Allocation of Funds:

The total annual cost to mentor a Futures' student is $360.

Your mentorship contribution goes towards your mentored student receiving a backpack, school supplies, or comparable educationally focused products. It also provides program support to the student and his or her family and allows our Regional Coordinators to make school visits, train community volunteers, coordinate student/parent workshops and meetings, and travel to the remote locations that Futures serves.
 

Native American Scholarships

Check Out These Opportunities!

List of Native American Scholarships

Native American Scholarships


 

American Indian Education Foundation Scholarship Program

Check Out This Scholarship Program

Up to $2,000 for Freshman Scholarships!

American Indian Education Foundation
 

Tools for Success

A Guide to Seniors, Families Counselors & Others

A 28-page guide published by the American Indian Education Foundation.

Tools for Success
 

Cappex

College Search Made Simple

Millions in Scholarships! Look for the Native American page!

Cappex
 

KnowHowToGo.com

Learn the four steps to college and more!

KnowHowToGo.com
 

American Indian College Fund

Scholarship Opportunities! Visit their website.

American Indian College Fund
 

Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Opportunities!

It is the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation’s (NACF) mission to provide financial support to artists and organizations to help our Native cultures flourish. NACF recently awarded its first grants to 26 American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian artists and organizations. To learn more about the NACF and to find out more about all of the grants awarded across the United States, visit their website.

Native Arts and Culture Foundation
 

Fastweb Scholarship Search

Free Scholarship Search Solution!

For additional information, visit Fastweb.
 

Buick Achievers Scholarship Program

You're already making a difference. Achieving academic goals. Helping your community. Now comes college. The Buick Achievers Program wants to find you...and then help.

Buick Achievers Program
 

American Indian Higher Education Resources

The American Indian Higher Education Resources (AIHER) project is a much needed centralized place of information and support for American Indian students and parents who plan to attend mainstream colleges and universities. AIHER will provide American Indian students with essential information about colleges, the application process, financial resources, scholarship, internships, fellowships and apprenticeships to take away the stress and confusion factor to contribute to students' success.

Amerian Indian Higher Education Resources

 

American Indian Graduate Center

Look for many great opportunities at AIGC, American Indian Graduate Center

The American Indian Graduate Center, Inc. announces the availability of fellowships and loans for service to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students.

Amerian Indian Graduate Center

 

Native American Finance Officers Association

Many Great Opportunities!

The Native American Finance Officers Association builds the financial strength of tribal governments and their enterprises by providing educational forums and resources, and by instilling finance and accounting best practices.
Go to their website and click on Education tab.

Native American Finance Officers Association
 

New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union Scholarship

Great Opportunity for New Mexico Students!

New Mexico’s students, take the opportunity to apply for an education scholarship through the New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation.

New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union Scholarship


 

Native American Scholarships

Many Great Opportunities!

Visit Powwows.com to learn about these Native American Scholarships.

Powwow.com.
 

Mentor Background Check

Running background checks on all mentors is a requirement of FFC by Insurance companies.

For the Applicant:

1. Log on to Click here to go to FFC's Background Check at Intellicorp

2. Enter the password on the Welcome Page: refer to Mentor Letter or call Janelle (800) 545-6843 Ext. 121

3. Enter Personal Information.

a. All fields marked with a “*” are required.

4. Click Next and review all information to ensure its accuracy before proceeding.

a. If you Quit without clicking Save, the system will not save your information. Your background check will not be run. You will need to start over from the beginning when you return.

b. If you click Save before you Quit, you will be provided with a reference code to enter when you return to the site to pick up where you left off.

i. When returning to the site, click on this link on the Welcome Page: “If you are returning to finish a previous search, then click here.”

ii. enter your last name and reference number to resume your previous search.

5. Click Complete



 

QuestBridge

QuestBridge offers opportunities for outstanding low-income students.

QuestBridge is a non-profit program that links bright, motivated low-income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation's best colleges. QuestBridge is the provider of the National College Match Program and the College Prep Scholarship.

QuestBridge
 

DoSomething.org Opportunities

Look for the many DoSomething.org Opportunities for Scholarships!

They're giving away money! Do you want to make a change, but lack the funds? DoSomething.org has tons of grants just for you, so check them out.

For additional information, visit DoSomething,org.
 

Young Native Writers Essay Contest

The National Museum of the American Indian, in partnership with the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation

The National Museum of the American Indian, in partnership with the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, is pleased to announce a call for entries for the annual Young Native Writers Essay Contest.

Young Native Writers Essay Contest
 

College Horizons

Futures for Children Sophomores and Juniors

College Horizons is a five-day “Pre-College Workshop” geared specifically for American Indian students. This remarkable program is held twice annually on college campuses around the nation. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher to apply (academic transcript required). Please read application requirements carefully.

If you apply and are accepted by College Horizons, Futures for Children will pay for 15 scholarships (round trip airfare and program fees). All enrolled Futures for Children Friendship and Youth Leadership students who qualify with College Horizons are eligible for the scholarship.

College Horizons
 

Patty Iron Cloud Program

Association of American Indian Physicians

Through its cooperative agreement with the Office of Minority Health, the Patty Iron Cloud National Native American Youth Initiative is an intense academic enrichment, and reinforcement, program designed to better prepare American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) high school students to remain in the academic pipeline and pursue a career in the health professions and/or biomedical research.

Patty Iron Cloud Program
 

Dream Catcher Science Program

Sandia National Laboratories

The Dream Catcher Science Program is a hands-on science and engineering program designed for American Indian middle-school and high-school students in grades 6 through 12 who are interested in science, math, and engineering. There is no cost to attend the program.

Dream Catcher Science Program
 

Morris K. Udall Native American Congressional Internships

Washington D.C.

The Native American Congressional Internship Program provides college Juniors and Seniors with an insider's view of the federal government. The ten-week internship in Washington, D.C., places students in Senate and House offices, committees, Cabinet departments and the White House, where they are able to observe government decision-making processes first-hand.

Morris K. Udall Native American Congressional Internships
 

Young Scholars Program

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholars Program offers one of the most personalized scholarship programs for high-achieving students in the nation. The Foundation’s Young Scholars Program is designed to nurture exceptional students who have demonstrated, through academic excellence and extracurricular activities, that they have the potential to excel. Students apply for the program in 7th grade, enter the program in 8th grade, and continue through high school. Each Young Scholar receives a unique combination of opportunities that may include:
• Guidance in selecting a high school and, if necessary, support in applying to a private or magnet high school.
• Summer academic or enrichment programs.
• Computers, software, or other learning technology.
• Specialized support in music, art, science, math, or other subjects.
• Connection with a nationwide community of Young Scholars.
• Resources for career exploration and mentorship.
• College advising and counseling.

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
 

Helpful Tips

• Letter writing is the first form of communication; email and phone calls are optional, if available. Few students have access to personal email or cell phones.

• Rather than sending a few, lengthy letters, which can be overwhelming, send frequent, short letters.

• To really engage your student in communicating with you and in building your relationship, be sure to ask all the ‘W’ questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why?

• Do you want more photos of your student? Send him/her a disposable camera with a return envelope.

• Share a map or pictures of the area where you live and ask for the same from your student; it is very helpful to get an idea where each of you live.

• If your student is from a New Mexico Pueblo tribe they celebrate an annual Feast Day; find out the date on our Event Calendar. Many visitors attend and it is a great opportunity to meet your student, his/her family, and experience their culture.

Also, bear in mind…

• Futures cannot guarantee delivery of any time-sensitive gifts/packages from the Futures’ office to the community volunteer or student. Deliveries can only be made when Regional Coordinators are traveling to the community for other FFC business.

• Please introduce FFC to your family and friends, over 40% of our new mentors come from referrals by our current mentors.



 

A Legacy Of Mentoring

Jan Reed ~ Karina Roessel ~ Dru Dale Winney

“A commitment to education, friendship, support, and guidance everyday.” That’s the legacy that Karina Roessel’s mentor, Jan Reed, past principal at Chinle Elementary School, passed on to her. Ms. Reed’s reputation for encouraging excellence in all things is legendary, even today. Her mentoring and life-long friendship with Karina is a true legacy.

Along with Karina’s mother, her uncle, Raymond Nakai, and her mentor, Jan Reed, Karina was surrounded by a caring circle of love, inspiration, and support. Their cumuliative message to Karina was to “remain focused, be excellent in all you do and you will have a great future.”

Karina followed in her mentor’s footsteps. She attended the University of Northern Colorado Teacher’s College where she received a Special Education/Elementary degree. Later, she attained her Masters degree from Northern Arizona University.

She first taught special education in Ganado, AZ on the Navajo Nation. When a position opened for Dean of Students at Chinle Elementary, Karina applied and was given the job. The opportunity brought Karina full circle back to her mentor, Jan Reed.

Today, many years later, Karina Roessel is principal of Round Rock Elementary-Junior High School in Round Rock AZ. She is studying for her doctorate of education at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.

Today, Karina is mentor to Dru Dale Winney, a sixth grade Navajo student with a 4.0 grade point average.

The legacy continues.

 

Why Futures for Children?

• 98% of Futures' students graduate high school.
• More than 54% of Futures' students pursue college or other post-secondary education.
• Futures' graduates continue with post-secondary studies at twice the national rate of Native American students.
• More than 180 volunteers work in 61 American Indian communities across New Mexico and Arizona.
 

Why Now?

• The dropout rate for American Indians is a bleak 52%.1
• American Indians have the lowest number of students of any ethnic group attending degree granting institutions.2
• American Indians suffer a poverty rate of 24.2% versus the national average of 13.2%. 3, 4
• Approximately 90,000 Native families are homeless or under-housed.5

1 Education & Research Data Center, 2007-08 3 InfoPlease.com from the U.S. Census Bureau
2 National Center for Education & Statistics 4 http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty
5 ConsciousAlliance.org from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, 2002



 

Student Responsibilities

Students are selected for mentorship with the expectation to:

Communicate
With their mentors at least every other month (six times a year) and acknowledge all mentor gifts.

Complete
Fall progress reports during each school year.

Maintain
A C average, or the equivalent, as well as maintain good school attendance.

Demonstrate
Good behavior at school and in their community.


 

Mentor Commitment

Commit to Changing a Child's Future and Change Both of Your Lives

Futures for Children believes academic success is achieved one child at a time. Over the past forty years, Futures has woven an ever-expanding tapestry of more than 20,000 American Indian students and their families through mentorship and training programs designed to encourage and inspire kids to stay in school. We begin with a single, beautiful thread—a Native American child.

The loom for this strong and richly textured fabric is fashioned with the commitment of time, skills, and money from thousands of mentors, donors, community volunteers, family members, and Futures' staff. More than ever, time is critical for the youngest generation of our nation’s Native American population.
 

Mentorship Support helps ensure:

• Coordination of an extensive Update (Verification) Process to provide mentors with current information about their
students.

• Extensive weekly travel for the Regional Coordinator to Futures Friendship sites in New Mexico and Arizona.

• Regional Coordinator home visits with students and families that nurture relationships between students and mentors when necessary.

• Regional Coordinator and Mentor Assistant support and follow up via phone, email, and regular mail regarding any mentor questions or concerns.

• Periodic Futures-initiated follow up with current mentors and students to gain awareness of the status of mentorships.

• Periodic Regional Coordinator community and school meetings with students, families, and community members to address questions and concerns about the Friendship/ Mentorship Program.

• Ongoing Regional Coordinator training and support to more than 120 Friendship Volunteers in school and community settings to maximize access and benefits to Friendship students.

• Periodic Regional Coordinator meetings with various community leaders, principals, teachers, and other school officials to promote positive community awareness and maximize access to the Friendship program.
 

Programs at a Glance

Navigating life in two worlds: A bridge to success.

Futures for Children's Programs

Friendship / Mentorship
The Friendship / Mentorship Program matches American Indian children with mentors outside of their reservations—adults who listen, coach, and care. Through letters, email, phone conversations, and visits, our mentors encourage their students to complete high school and pursue a post-secondary education. The relationships created through the Friendship Program are integral to positively affecting and improving children’s lives.

Youth Leadership
The Youth Leadership Program inspires students to become critical thinkers, role models, and leaders in their communities. Students meet the challenges of planning and implementing community service projects designed to enhance life skills and self-confidence.

Families in Action
This program is designed to encourage parents and guardians to create a positive, encouraging home environment that promotes academic success and healthy relationships. Families in Action allows parents to identify obstacles, then build resources and find solutions that support their children’s educational achievement.